Albert Coles Sterling Silver Tea Set & Tray c1850 285oz Start Price USD 10,000.00 Current Price USD 10,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 10,200.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, October 05, 2008 End Time Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Location New England See more about 'Albert Coles Sterling Silver Tea Set & Tray c1850 285oz' Description MUSEUM QUALITY c1850 ALBERT COLES STERLING SILVER TEA AND COFFEE SERVICE: MATCHING STERLING TEA TRAY; LAVISHLY DETAILED ANTHEMION IN LEAF AND VINE FRAME DECORATION; ACANTHUS AND STARS ON RUFFLED GROUND; GREEK KEY; MATCHING FLORAL AND LEAF HANDLED OVAL TEA TRAY; 285 OUNCES We are exceptionally pleased to offer this museum quality, mid 19th century Albert Coles sterling silver tea and coffee service. The set retains its original sterling tea tray. This is a custom order, commissioned service for a favored, wealthy client. Coles was born in 1815. By 1835, he had established his silver design and smithing shop in New York City. He produced mostly flatware. His designs received numerous awards, including gold medals at the American Institute exhibitions. They produced little holloware. Only smaller items such as cups, goblets, napkin rings and snuff boxes. The firm was not known for tea wares of any kind. In 1877 Cole was acquired by Montgomery Co.. Then in 1883 by George Shiebler. Each piece of the tea and coffee service is masterfully hand crafted. Gently compressed, circular form. Large, raised Greek key decoration, on linear ground. Boldly carved anthemion within oval vine frame medallions. Each with shaded and line engraved acanthus cap. Alternating with acanthus and vine framed ovals, smooth centre. Between these, unframed twin leaf and vine, with "sprouting" recessed beads. The repeated use of the anthemion or palmette design gives the set an elegant, classical appearance. The coffee and teapots with unique "starburst" designs to centre of neck. Turned anthemion to both sides. Scrolling vine, partial satin finish all about. Elegant chased leaf cap spouts. Stylized "fleur de lis" and raised petal mount. Each piece with well cast acanthus cap C-scroll handles. Lower handle with oval framed fleur de lis. Continuing the design from the spout The sugar bowl with elaborate scroll and globe cap, open centre curved handles. Engraved leaf and florals. With naturalistic leaf and split vine joins. Well fit, softly domed covers. Topped with engraved star flower cap, raised bud form finial. With anthemion and scroll surround. The matching tea tray in classic oval form. Elegant raised Greek key border. Recessed centre. Continuation of the classical anthemion and acanthus decoration from the tea service. Boldly modelled floral, "dart" and leaf cap handles. On fine hand hammered stippled background. Ruffled leaf joins. Monogrammed "Mother" and "George" to one side only. This museum quality c1850 Albert Cole's hand crafted cream pitcher is 5 inches handle to spout and 5 inches tall, weighs 14 ounces. The waste bowl 5 1/2 inches diameter and weighs 17 ounces. The covered sugar bowl 7 1/2 inches handle to handle 6 inches tall, 23 ounces. The teapot is 9 1/2 inches handle to spout and 8 tall, weighs 38 ounces. The coffee pot 9 inches handle to spout and 8 1/2 tall, weighs 38 ounces. Exceptionally thick, heavy guage sterling construction. The set weighs 130 ounces. Matching Coles tea tray is 31 1/2 inches handle to handle 20 inches across. Massive weight at 155 ounces. No give whatever to tray centre, even when held entirely on end. The six piece set, tea and coffee service and tray weighs 285 ounces. In excellent condition. Appears little, if ever used. Rich, lustreous sterling patina throughout. The lavish swirling vine and floral decoration retains its original crisp, vibrant hand chased detail. Handles perfectly secure, with original ivory heat stops. Interior of both tea and coffee pot completely free of discoloration. Each piece sits perfectly steady on table or sideboard. Few scattered pin head size bumps. Single shallow line crease lower teapot. Tiny 1/8th inch sliver missing from coffee pot upper ivory heat stop. None of this at all distracting. Tray with few scuffs and lines from careful use. Each piece with Albert Coles distinctive "eagle" "AC" and "profile" trademark. Well struck. The matching sterling tea tray hallmarked to underside "A Coles" "Eng Sterling 925-1000", and with "A. Coles" to opposite side. An important, commissioned c1850 Albert Coles sterling silver tea and coffee service with matching sterling tea tray. The entire 285 ounces set in near pristine condition. For the discerning collector of 19th century American silver. Focused upon the finest specialty silversmiths of the period, such as Albert Coles. Remember, you are bidding on both the tea and coffee service AND the matching sterling silver tea tray. Please feel free to inquire directly about this, or any item we've listed. Whether the item is alone or part of a set. We very much welcome your interest. We are collectors first. As such, we are quite easy to work with. We happily combine items when shipping, saving you costs. We ship twice weekly, usually US Postal Priority. Fully insured for domestic packages, and air parcel overseas. We charge a bit more than actual cost for custom size boxes, shipping materials and to pay for professional packing. We make great effort to accurately describe each item listed. Returns are accepted, if either condition, country of origin or dating is significantly incorrect. In such cases we refund your shipping costs as well. Like you, we are only human, and make mistakes. Hopefully, not too many. Remember, the items you see are antiques. Hence, have an expected amount of wear from normal use. As such, returning an item because we failed to mention the tiniest bit of wear, or barely discernible flaw is not acceptable. Nor do we accept returns based on buyer's remorse. Nor change of taste, or because a buyer did not realize how "small" four inches might be once in hand. Please note, Massachusetts residents are subject to sales tax. We have over 4290 feedbacks. And, are quite proud of our 99.9% rating. We received favorable notice in the March 12th, 2006 New York Times. Page 8, Business Section, in a well written article on silver collecting. Copy furnished upon request. From our personal collection, a fine Edward and John Moore, of Tiffany fame, mid 19th century coin silver basket. Illustrated in the cover article of May/June "Silver Magazine", page 27. Enjoy....and good fortune in your bidding. Place a Bid!